COLUMBUS, Ohio (WTVN)--The city of Columbus released the final crime statistics for 2022 on Thursday, which showed significant declines in violent crimes, but higher rates of car thefts.
After a record number of homicides in Columbus in 2021, the city recorded 139 homicides last year, a decline of nearly one-third. Officers also removed a record number of illegal guns from the streets, confiscating over 3,300 such firearms.
Robberies, burglaries, and felonious assaults were also all down double-digits from 2021, with rapes also declining 5%.
Mayor Andrew Ginther credits good police work and the city’s Comprehensive neighborhood Safety strategy with bringing down the crime numbers.
One statistic that saw a dramatic increase in 2022--car thefts. Nearly 7,800 cars were reported stolen across the city in 2022, up from just over 6,000 the prior year.
Many of those thefts were blamed on a group of teens that targeted Hyundai's and Kia's. After a spike on those thefts in July 2022, there was a significant decrease in the fall, after police began working with parents and judges on targeting the crimes.